monitor blacklight problems

I bought a Gateway FPD1830 monitor a year or so ago, and I haven't been happier with a computer purchase until this week. It has always been very bright and there aren't any dead pixels. But lately when I turn it on it flickers (the correct image) and then dies. The power LED is still green. I can still do things on the computer when it is off. It is acting exactly like a florescent light that is going bad, which is precisely what a backlight is.

So it seems pretty clear to me that all I have to do is spend $15.00 to replace the backlight, rather than spending hundreds of dollars getting it repaired somewhere else or buying a new one.

But can I be sure it's the backlight? I have no reason to believe otherwise, but I just want to be very sure before I make any purchases. I don't know too much about LCD's so I'd feel much better if I wasn't making repair decisions based on my knowledge alone.

Thanks,

scem0

Oh, actually, there is one thing that makes me think it may not be the backlight. It flickers and then dies, but occasionally it catches and stays on. Instead of flickering for 3 seconds and then going black it flickers for 7 or 8 and then stays on and works perfectly. The monitor hasn't been dimming at all either.

As long as I don't turn it off after it catches then it will stay on, and work as it should.

This leads me to believe that it could be the inverter, but I don't know enough to be sure.

scem0

I can't contact them, I have an international S# which doesn't work with their site.

I sent them an email with a fake serial number (0101010101) to no avail.

Did they give any good instructions on how to fix this problem?

Thanks,

scem0

I found a site that has diagrams and backlights you can purchase.

Here is a PDF that details the installation.

And here is where you can buy new backlights. But, I'm going to take out my backlight before I install a new one and measure it to make sure I get the right one.

That was the only place I could find anything helpful, unfortunately.

scem0

exactly - but I hate leaving the LCD on all day and all night. Mine's been on for 4 days now....

and you can buy a FPD1830 inverter:
http://www.moniserv.com/doc/inverter.htm
but it costs $100 .

I'm 17, I can't afford this... I spent all the money i had on buying the monitor in the first place...

scem0

I'm tempted to call Gateway and bitch until they do something. Then again, they probably can't do anything because of my international Serial Number...

Then again, maybe a wire is just loose or something and a jiggle or two might fix it.

Whatever the case, if you get it fixed, post what you did here.

I'll be in China with Kalamazoo College till the 29th.

scem0

Good to hear that.

I guess I'll do the same... I'm still bitter about it though .

scem0